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Breastfeeding
— Benefits and Getting Started
Human
milk and infant formula are different. Not only does human milk
provide all the protein, sugar, fat and vitamins your baby needs
to be healthy, but it has special benefits that formulas cannot
match. It helps protect your baby against certain diseases and
infections. Because of the protective substances in human milk,
breastfed children are less likely to have the following:
- Ear infections (otitis media)
- Allergies
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pneumonia, wheezing, and bronchiolitis
- Meningitis
Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect
against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Other reasons why human milk is good for your child include
the following:
- It is easier for babies to digest.
- It does not need to be prepared.
- It costs nothing to make and is always in supply.
- It is even good for the environment since there are no
bottles, cans and boxes to put in the garbage.
- Breastfeeding also provides physical contact, warmth and
closeness, which help to create a special bond between a
mother and her baby.
There are also many health benefits for you because
breastfeeding does the following:
- Burns more calories and helps you get back to your
prepregnancy weight more quickly.
- Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and, in premenopausal
women, breast cancer.
- Builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in
older age.
- Delays the return of your menstrual period, which may help
extend the time between pregnancies. (Keep in mind that
breastfeeding alone will not prevent pregnancy.)
- Helps the uterus return to its regular size more quickly.
Breastfeeding — Getting Started
Immediately after delivery, your baby should be placed on
your chest or abdomen, skin to skin. Babies are very alert after
they are born, and they are usually hungry, too! Your baby's
first feeding can take place within 30 minutes to an hour after
delivery. The protection against infection that human milk
provides is important immediately after birth. Your milk will
also give the baby nutrients to prevent a low blood sugar level.
This early taste of your milk also stimulates the baby to nurse
better later.
If you had a vaginal delivery, you can nurse in bed or in a
chair in the following ways:
- Lie on your side with your baby facing you.
- Hold your baby in the cradle position, with the head in
the crook of your arm. Firmly support the baby's back and
buttocks. When feeding this way, make sure your baby's
entire body is facing your body, not the ceiling.
If you had a Cesarean-section delivery you can nurse your baby
in the following ways:
- Sit up using one or two extra pillows to support your baby
and protect your incision.
- Lie down on your side with your baby facing you.
- Use a side-sitting or "football" hold.
Always take time to make yourself comfortable. Do not be shy
about asking for help during the first few feedings. Just as
with learning anything new, it may take several feedings before
you and your baby become a skilled nursing team.
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The information contained in this publication should not be
used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your
pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and
circumstances.
© Copyright 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics
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